Poling out yankee on CD 31 (or 30, 32,)

[Dean Abramson]

I'd like to pole out my yankee to go wing-and-wing.

I had twist-lock poles on my earlier, smaller boats. I'd love to go that route, but I don't think any of those poles are robust enough for a 31. Also, those boats had regular jibs and gennys, not a yankee with the high clew.

All this time with the 31, I have been frustrated trying to balance the boat and go wing/wing with no pole. I can never keep the yankee full for long. I would love to hear from anyone who poles out a yankee on a 30, 31 or 32. Which pole do you have? And how do you rig it?

Our current boat came with a line-control pole, but I deemed it to be too heavy for my wife and I to use safely, and so I gave it to a friend. A cruiser I met recently told me he went with a custom fixed-length carbon pole, and he loves it. It was mega-pricey, but he said he never used his earlier Forespar line-control pole because of the weight.

All thoughts on this will be appreciated.

D

[Jim Walsh]

I have a Forespar line control pole and deploy it by clipping onto a bail mounted on the mast, then clip in to the yankee's sheet, extend the pole, final adjustment on the sheet and "Bob's your uncle". Carbon fiber sounds like the ultimate solution if cost is of no concern.

[Dean Abramson]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for responding. Could you tell me which model Forespar pole you have?

Do you know: if I were to use a fixed-length spinnaker pole instead, would that be cheaper? And just as strong? Or perhaps lighter? I have looked into spinnaker poles somewhat, but I find the info confusing.

Thanks,

Dean

[Jim Walsh]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for responding. Could you tell me which model Forespar pole you have?

Do you know: if I were to use a fixed-length spinnaker pole instead, would that be cheaper? And just as strong? Or perhaps lighter? I have looked into spinnaker poles somewhat, but I find the info confusing.

Thanks,

Dean

It's the 10' to 18' line control model 401107 with the piston (EL) inboard fitting and the trigger (TR) outboard fitting. It has an attachment point for a pole lift at the outboard end but I've never made use of it. I see from their website that they now use a socket inboard fitting. I have a regular sized yankee and a large(er) yankee. The adjustable length is a handy feature for me.

I can't help with any advice on spinnaker poles. I've never used one. It might be worthwhile calling Forespar's Tech line for advice.

[Dean Abramson]

Thanks so much, Jim! And I am glad you mentioned about your non-use of a topping lift; I took your last post to mean that, but was not 100% positive. I am hoping to use no TL either.

You hook the pole to just the sheet, right, aft of the bowline? IE, not thru the bowline? (I used to go thru the bowline until someone warned me not to.)

[Keith]

Hi Dean,

)n MOON DANCE CD30C I have an old forespar in three section, I think it goes 8-17'. Unlike Jim's mine is a manual twist lock but is more than strong enough.

Thanks,

Keith

[Dean Abramson]

Thanks, Keith.

[Dean Abramson]

Hey Keith, do you ever have trouble with it collapsing itself? I was eyeing that pole, but Forespar says it's for boats up to 28' (that may be the lawyers and/or the sales department talking); and in some reviews I saw the users wrote that sometimes it "un-telescoped" on its own.

I would prefer that pole to the line control one, for both weight and $ reasons, but did have concerns re whether it's up to the job. But I am only going to use it for a yankee; it's bigger than a standard yankee, but not that much so. Plus, I would never use a pole in strong (more than, say, 12-knot) winds; I mainly want it for light winds; in stronger stuff, I would prefer to use just the main, or to jibe (or "chicken-jibe") downwind on a series of broad reaches, keeping the sails on one side. I want a pole primarily for wing-and-wing.

I would think if the twist-lock pole is good enough for a 150 genoa on a 28-footer, then it would be ample for an 85% yankee on a 31. Are you using yours for bigger headsails than a yankee?

[Jim Walsh]

Thanks so much, Jim! And I am glad you mentioned about your non-use of a topping lift; I took your last post to mean that, but was not 100% positive. I am hoping to use no TL either.

You hook the pole to just the sheet, right, aft of the bowline? IE, not thru the bowline? (I used to go thru the bowline until someone warned me not to.)

I do not use a topping lift on the pole. Yes, the outboard end of the pole is attached to the sheet, never to the clew or any fixed point on your sheet (a bowline or snap shackle).

[Dean Abramson]

Thanks so much, Jim.

Does the pole end tend to stay near the clew? Or does it migrate around?

Or does tightening the pole against the sheet form a "point," an angle in the sheet, at which the pole stays put? And if so, where does that point tend to be?

In use, how much upward angle (relative to the deck) does the pole have? And how much forward angle (relative to an imaginary line running athwartship) does it have?

Having never used a pole with the high-clewed yankee, I am having a little trouble picturing the geometry of it!

[Jim Walsh]

Thanks so much, Jim.

Does the pole end tend to stay near the clew? YES, as you tighten or loosen the sheet it tends to stay put against the clewOr does it migrate around?

Or does tightening the pole against the sheet form a "point," an angle in the sheet, at which the pole stays put? And if so, where does that point tend to be?

In use, how much upward angle (relative to the deck) does the pole have? That would just be relative to the height of your pole end fitting at the mast and your clew. With my normal Yankee the clew is higher than on my large Yankee where the clew is lowerAnd how much forward angle (relative to an imaginary line running athwartship) does it have? That just depends on how tight or loose your sheet is. Loosen it too much and it will rub your staysail stay

Having never used a pole with the high-clewed yankee, I am having a little trouble picturing the geometry of it! I've never taken a picture of myself running because I'm always alone but I'm sure someone on the forum can share a photo

[Dean Abramson]

Thanks, Jim, for all of your help!

I ordered a pole yesterday. I decided to go with the lighter-weight "heavy duty " 7'-15' twist-lock pole; it's 7 lbs. (vs. 17 lbs.). I don't plan to use it in really strong winds, so I am optimistic that this pole will suffice. I hope I've made the right choice ...

Thanks again.

[Keith]

ey Keith, do you ever have trouble with it collapsing itself? I was eyeing that pole, but Forespar says it's for boats up to 28' (that may be the lawyers and/or the sales department talking); and in some reviews I saw the users wrote that sometimes it "un-telescoped" on its own.

I would prefer that pole to the line control one, for both weight and $ reasons, but did have concerns re whether it's up to the job. But I am only going to use it for a yankee; it's bigger than a standard yankee, but not that much so. Plus, I would never use a pole in strong (more than, say, 12-knot) winds; I mainly want it for light winds; in stronger stuff, I would prefer to use just the main, or to jibe (or "chicken-jibe") downwind on a series of broad reaches, keeping the sails on one side. I want a pole primarily for wing-and-wing.

I would think if the twist-lock pole is good enough for a 150 genoa on a 28-footer, then it would be ample for an 85% yankee on a 31. Are you using yours for bigger headsails than a yankee?

Hi Jim,

No, it never collapse. I use it on the 115 yankee and also the asymmetrical spinnaker. I do use a topping lift. If I were to buy a new one I would go with the line control. With the twist lock it is more difficult to get it to the correct length.

Hope this helps

Keith

[Dean Abramson]

Thanks, Keith. I appreciate the input. I ordered the current version of the three-part Heavy Duty 7'-15' twist-lock pole (7 lbs.), and I am hoping for the best. I think for my intended use it should work out, but there is some gamble involved here, for sure. I think if I owned the 17 lb. pole, I would be much less inclined to deploy it for short stints. For example, there is one trip we regularly take, which near the end frequently requires a half-hour run, then a 15-min reach, then another half-hour run. I want to the setup and take-down to be as quick and painless as possible. I have chronic back issues, which very much played into the decision too.

Thanks for the help, guys. I'll let you know how I like it.

[David Morton]

Dean, I use the 15' Forespar twist lock pole. I also take the staysail boom topping lift and use it as a topping lift for the pole. It greatly simplifies the handling of the extended pole when I am single handed. My inboard end is attached to a ring on a track, so I can move it vertically depending on the height of the clew of the sail I am poling out, whether it be my yankee or my jenny.